NEW BRAUNFELS, TX.- Lark Mason Associates successfully concluded a series of four auctions on iGavel Auctions, generating over $900,000 in sales. The auctions, which closed on October 15th, featured over 950 lots of rare Asian art, ranging from Song Dynasty to Republic Period Chinese porcelain bird feeders and water containers, to Chinese porcelain spoons, and important textiles. Collectors from around the world, including many from the People's Republic of China, competed for the diverse offerings.
"The success of these auctions was largely due to the inclusion of a broad selection of accessible, lower- to middle-market items," said Lark Mason. "By dividing the lots into smaller, specialized sales, rather than hosting a single large event, we created a more targeted appeal for collectors."
One of the key features of these auctions was the offering of porcelain spoons, bird feeders, and water containers from the estate of Ida Besse Howes, a renowned conservationist, world traveler, and arts advocate from Round Hill, Texas. "We aimed at a specialized audience, particularly those in China, and our strategy paid off. Had we placed these items in a broader sale without allowing time for word to spread within the specialized collecting community, we might have missed significant interest," Mason explained.
Competitive bidding led to several lots far exceeding their estimates, with many sales extending into overtime. Notable results include a Qing Dynasty Chinese Imperial Yellow Ground Nine Dragon Brocaded & Kesi Silk Panel, which fetched $78,125; a Chinese Burlwood Covered Album of Letters, Qing Dynasty, and a Rubbing from the Yun Ju Temple, which achieved $52,626.25; and six late 19th-century Chinese Embroidered Framed Silk Panels, which sold for $30,000. A Chinese Gilt Lacquered Bronze Figure of a Bodhisattva hammered at $20,625, while a Chinese Carved Bamboo Figure of a Scholar with a Hardwood Stand brought $13,750.
Other significant lots included an early 20th-century bamboo birdcage, which was snapped up for $7,187.50; a Chinese Cobalt Blue Meiping Vase, which achieved $16,875; four Chinese Porcelain Spoons, including one marked Shende Tang, which sold for $13,125; and six multicolor glazed porcelain tabletop accessories, which brought in $15,000. A Chinese Tea Dust Glazed Vase with a Guangxu Incised mark realized $14,375.
